The House Of Om Retreats

We are planning next years exciting schedule as we speak and will be releasing the dates and schedules soon.

We do know the Amazing Swami Shiva Shankar is coming back to join us from the 9 – 16th June 2019, so book early to avoid disappointment, as we are already nearly full.

Shiva has been living in Ashrams since a very early age, he just knew it was where we wanted to be and the path he wanted to follow.

He was known from an early age as a foremost exponent and expert of the tradition; its texts and practices. He was a child prodigy with a flair for recitation of Mantras for a prolonged time-span, practice of Yogic techniques, meditating for hours and studying the ancient Holy Scriptures.

At the age of 14, crossing all familial and social boundaries and limitations, he left his home to attain spiritual enlightenment.

To intensify his spiritual practice and to advance further in the art of meditation, Shivaji joined the Kriya-Yoga course taught by Paramahansa Yogananda (the author of Autobiography of a Yogi) at Yogoda Satsang Society, Ranchi, Bihar. The inner thirst for seeking the Truth took hi m to the Himalayas to meet the most revered Sages and Yogis. By spending an extended period of time as a solitary and ascetic monk in the company of the mysterious Himalayan Yogis, he received divine inspirations and heart – rending spiritual experiences with their grace.

After successfully completing a three year course in Vedic Science and Meditation (T.M) for which he achieved first rank, he was selected to visit the West to spread the message of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma.

Changing Phases

In 1993 he met his Sadguru, Swami Chidananda Saraswati (the closest and senior most disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, and the former president of ‘The Divine Life Society’, founded by Swami Sivananda, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Himalaya). He was initiated into the religious order with the spiritual name Brahmachari Shiva Shankar Chaitanya by Swamiji.

Swamiji led him through the Bhakti marga for his successful spiritual journey. As a Sivananda disciple, he was trained under Sivananda’s ideal teachings (serve, love, meditate and realize) and also learnt from world renowned Yoga experts such as Swami Adhyatmananda, Swami Yogaswarupananda, Swami Vishwarupananda and Rudradev Gauda. He also attended a short course on Yoga at the Sivananda Dhanwantari Ashram (founded by Swami Vishnudevananda, Trivendrum, Nayyar Dum, Kerala).

Shivaji visited towns, villages and Sivananda branches throughout India to spread the divine message of Swami Sivananda through various spiritual activities (teaching the people Yoga, guiding the youth through inspiring discourse and rendering selfless service to mankind). By following the advice of his Sadguru, he moved to the Holy Kailas Ashram in Rishikesh, to study the classical philosophies and the Sanskrit scriptures of the Indian Vedic tradition in the monastic order of Maharshi Veda Vyasa and Adishankaracharya, (Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, Upanishads, Samkhya, Yoga Sutra, Smriti and so on).

Shivaji was inspired to master the technique of Hatha Yoga which he successfully accomplished through the teachings of many experts. He also joined the Iyengar Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, from 1997 onwards to deepen his experience of Yoga (Asanas, Pranayama and Yoga Therapy). To broaden his knowledge in the traditional lineage, he attended a four month teacher training course at the Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, Bihar (founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati) in 1999 and trained under the guidance of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati.

To intensify his spiritual practice and to advance further in the art of meditation, Shivaji joined the Kriya-Yoga course taught by Paramahansa Yogananda (the author of Autobiography of a Yogi) at Yogoda Satsang Society, Ranchi, Bihar. The inner thirst for seeking the Truth took hi m to the Himalayas to meet the most revered Sages and Yogis. By spending an extended period of time as a solitary and ascetic monk in the company of the mysterious Himalayan Yogis, he received divine inspirations and heart – rending spiritual experiences with their grace.

The Himalayan tradition is distinguished as the first meditative tradition, the most comprehensive, integral and all-inclusive which has given birth to the major traditions of the world. It still continues to enrich them all and does not require adherence to a belief system but experientially helps to verify metaphysical reality, through an unbroken linage ensured through transmission of Shakti. It is also known as Mantra based meditative tradition. He also accomplished the teacher training course at SVYASA (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana), Bangalore.

From his early teaching phases, Shivaji believed in building up the competence level of his students and so therefore chooses the subjects that he teaches according to the individual needs, interests, level of experience, capacity and intensity of his students. He is distinctly recognised in the fields of Raja Yoga (Ashtanga – eight limbs), Mantra Yoga (16 limbs), Laya Yoga (9 limbs), Hatha Yoga (4 limbs), Kundalini Yoga, Tantra and Kriya Yoga. His basic curriculum includes the study of Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Laya Yoga. Other aspects of Yoga are also included, keeping the Holy Vedic scriptures and Yogic texts in perspective.

Shivaji has taught extensively on many teacher training courses, retreats, workshops and at yoga festivals throughout India, in various yoga schools and organisations in several countries throughout Europe, UK, Thailand, Singapore and Japan. He also actively runs various trainings in Rishikesh.

COMING TO IBIZA JUNE 9TH – 16TH 2019. Please email me for more information or go to www.thehouseofom.org for more information.